December 18, 2012

I couldn't let Christmas come and go without giving one of my favorite followers a gift. One of MY favorite gifts to get is a new cookbook and that is what I am sharing with one of you.

I have been using my slow cooker more than ever lately and I have been searching for some good recipes. That is where this book comes in. It is perfect for any type of cook whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook. We could all use a few extra hours in the day, but since that isn't going to happen, we can save a little time by letting the slow cooker "cook" dinner for us.

After reading the first few pages of this book, it was obvious that this girl knows what she is doing when it comes to using a slow cooker. The front of the book is full of tips to get your food to turn out perfect every time. I have heard a lot of complaints that food in the slow cooker doesn't have any flavor or it's too runny and there is a tip for how to prevent each of those problems. If you don't already own a slow cooker or are looking to buy a new one, she will even help you decide which type and which size will work best for your family.

She cooks things in the slow cooker that I didn't even know was possible. Like bread? Did you know you could "bake" a loaf of bread in your slow cooker? Next time I have brown bananas, I will be trying her Brown Sugar Banana Bread.

The book is divided up into Appetizers, Beverages, Breads & Spreads, Breakfast, Beef Dishes, Poultry Dishes, Pork Dishes, Pasta Dishes & Sauces, Sides & Salads, Soups/Stews/Chili and Desserts! The recipes are easy to follow, all of the ingredients are common things you have used before and might even have in your pantry and while not every recipe has a photo, there are still a lot of photos throughout the book.

I have tried four recipes out of the book so far and I have liked all four and would make all four again. Next on my list is her Apple Butter!

Overall, I think it is a great cookbook and I can't wait to "cook" my way through it. If you are still looking for a last minute gift idea for someone, I think this would be a great choice! You could even pick up a slow cooker to give along with the book!Now, that would be an amazing present, if you ask me.

The Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup turned out good. I like big, bold flavors, so I ended up adding some extra spices. I also like a super chunky soup, so next time, I will add more rice.

Stay tuned to see the rest of the yummy dishes I have made out of this great cookbook.

Combine broth, water, carrots, celery, chicken and Rice-a-Roni (with seasoning packet) in a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Remove chicken from slow cooker; using two forks, shred. Return to slow cooker. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time, to form a roux. Whisk in milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Add salt and pepper. Stir roux mixture into slow cooker; cook on low for an additional 15 minutes or until thickened. Serves: 6-8

Jenn's Notes: I cut the recipe in half and I added an extra 1 1/2 cups of water after reading reviews that the soup was too thick. I also added some lemon pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning, because I felt like it needed a little something extra. I wished I would have added the entire box of Rice-a-Roni to my half batch, because there didn't end up being that much rice and I like a chunky soup. I used one large frozen chicken breast and I cooked for 5 hours.

**TO ENTER THIS COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY**

Sorry, giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only

1.Mandatory Entry: You must be a follower of Eat Cake For Dinner via GFC (Google Friend Connect), E-mail, Facebook or Pinterest. All are found on the right hand side of my blog. Leave me a comment and let me know which way you follow.

I don't know if this is my favorite, but I make this most often because of how easy it is. I just place a big chuck roast in the cooker (lined with a slow cooker bag, of course)add a packet of dry onion soup mix and a little water and walk away. The juices can be thickened with a T. or so of corn starch right in the slow cooker after removing the meat. Well, maybe it is my favorite since it's so easy!

My Potato Soup is my favorite thing to make in my crock pot and it is so good that not only did my soup get kidnapped once so did my crock pot (I did get it back, empty!). I would love to win a copy of this cookbook to add to my collection. Thank you for the chance to win the giveaway and may you have a joyous Holiday.cjbrick@ymail.com